TECHNICAL FOCUS
HOW TO CONNECT BALCONIES TO UNITISED FACADE BUILDS Following the recent publication of its white paper on unitised facade builds, Sapphire Balconies examines this growing trend and the technical considerations to bear in mind when designing this type of external building envelope with balconies. SAPPHIRE BALCONIES
A
n increase in offsite manufacturing is revolutionising the way buildings are constructed and aluminium unitised facades, consisting of prefabricated and offsite-assembled units, play a key role in this revolution. Commenting on this trend, Nick Haughton, Balcony Expert at Sapphire, says: “Used for technically challenging projects, fasttrack schemes, new builds and refurbishment, these units can be transported directly from the factory to site for fast installation on pre-prepared fixings.” Aluminium is used to form the frame for each panel which can be one or two storeys high and typically the width of a single glazing bay. Opening vents, glazing and infill panels are built into the panel which is sealed offsite prior to delivery. They offer a range of design variations within the facade structure, including different panel sizes, colours and materials, and these can be incorporated into the balcony design to complement and enhance the building’s architectural aesthetic. FC&A – NOVEMBER – 2020
be completed in the factory setting.
3. Time spent onsite/ preliminary costs
Key advantages There are a number of advantages to a unitised system over traditional methods, and these can be further optimised when combined with an offsite-manufactured balcony system, such as Sapphire’s Glide-On balconies – an innovative solution which is delivered preassembled and factory-finished to a high-quality standard with minimal onsite finishing.
The three key benefits of this approach are: 1. Safety Less work is completed on site compared to the ‘kit-of-parts’ approach. With balconies and panels manufactured offsite, the onsite safety risks are significantly reduced, especially the risks associated with working at height as unitised facades can be installed without scaffolding.
2. Quality Assembling panels and balconies offsite in controlled environments allows for more rigorous quality checks and controls. A better quality of structural and aesthetic operations can also 30
Since fabrication is done offsite, the time spent on the construction site is much reduced, resulting in further efficiency. And fewer trades are required onsite, reducing coordination of trades and programme delays. There is also an additional benefit of using a lightweight balcony, like Sapphire’s Glide-On system, with aluminium unitised facades as it means fewer anchors to the building structure are required and; therefore, less waterproofing and fireproofing are needed at junctions.
Innovations As unitised facades have become more common in today’s construction environment, new innovations have enabled simple and effective connection between balconies and this type of facade. These methods offer clear advantages over traditional techniques and, since the COVID-19 pandemic, have proven their
